“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”
the firstborn from the dead,
Jesus is the first to rise from the dead permanently (1 Corinthians 15:20; Colossians 1:18). Other people were raised from the dead only to die again. This is not resurrection but resuscitation. Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead, but he died again. He was mortal. God raised Jesus from the dead to live forever. Jesus has immortality.
“Which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
Jesus is called “firstborn” five times and “only begotten” five times. “Only begotten” refers to the incarnation (His physical life on earth). Five passages in the New Testament portray Christ as first in priority. Colossians 1:15 presents Him as first before all creation, and He is also the originator of creation.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:15-16).
Jesus is first in position over creation.
Jesus is first in resurrection (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5).
Jesus is first in rank over the church (Romans 8:29).
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).
Under Judaism, the right of the firstborn son held status. “Firstborn” does not imply other children in the family. It conveys superiority of rank. He ranks superior to any in His class.
Principle:
We should give Jesus first place in our lives.
Application:
Jesus has the right to first place in our lives.
